10 December 2008

The Himalayas are still too far away to get to this time around. But what we did get to was the Ganga. And places like Rishikesh and Haridwar, which all of which were just names I heard from my grandparents. Till now. And a huge area called Rajaji Wildlife Reserve - it was gorgeous to see so much greenery (and animals) here.And of course, local shopping, exquisite mehendi (henna designs) done on our hands on the road, a glut of sweets....the list goes on. Only a few more days to go here, till we move down south...

5 December 2008

True to form this time, even my last flight from Delhi to DDN was late. I was in a foul mood and completely exhausted.

The 40-seater small aircraft and its bumpy takeoff didn't help my mood any. Till, in the distance, I saw the first sight of the Himalayas - snow capped and extending in both directions as far as I could see. I was moved. I had never imagined that I would set eyes on the Himalayas in person in this lifetime or that it would affect me so much. It was just awesome and was so completely unexpected. Suddenly, it was as if all the hassle with getting here never even happened.

And so now, I am in Dehradun. Small city, friendly people. The house has a view of Mussorie from the front balcony. We are planning to go there soon.**********************************************************************************It is really surprising to see what draws the attention of kids. Small N is fascinated by a brick house being built next door. She spends hours watching them lay the bricks in a row, putting cement on top and then moving on to the next row. She's never seen any brick houses being built, only wooden houses in NZ.

1 December 2008

Thanks to my AKL-SIN flight being cancelled on Nov 29. Spent Nov 29 in Akl & Nov 30 in Sing. Sat around in AKL departure lounge till 5 am to be told that the flight had engine troubles that could not be rectified and that it was being cancelled.

Exhausted after two nights of hardly any sleep and now third night of the same looming up in the form of Delhi flight.

28 November 2008

Almost set to go. The bags are packed and the tickets and passports are in my bag. But I feel so different to what I did just before the happenings in Mumbai.

I feel rage, sorrow, horror ...and the hostage situation is still going on. It is obvious that it is not just the whites who are being targetted. It is all the 'infidels'.

Your God, their God, my God or any God in whose name such things are done, will damn their souls to all eternity for all that they are doing now, all that they have done in the past and what they will undoubtedly continue doing in the future. If I had a gun now, I would have willingly shot the bastards.

But anger is not for now. I say Om Shanthi shanthi shanthi: and think of what Gandhiji said: an eye for an eye will make the whole world blind.

25 November 2008

Perspective #1: All kids are born with innate intelligence. It is how life and circumstances enable them to apply what they were born with that creates geniuses and super-intelligent kids – ie, everyone has the ability to ‘shine’ but only some are given the circumstances that enable them to do so.

Perspective #2: Only some kids are born with the ability to be highly intelligent and to do well academically and otherwise. That is why not all kids are bright and superachievers because they don't have that ability .

Three of us screamed like banshees for 5 minutes, trying to convince each other that our perspective was the right one. The fourth one was waiting for the right time to make her point. After 5 minutes, we all had to split to complete various other chores at home. So the debate was inconclusive. Just as well, as otherwise, being mature, intelligent women, we might have come to blows;-)

24 November 2008

Also, trepidation when I think of how much I want to squeeze into those 6 weeks away.

And annoyance at having to repack my bags for the nth time to make sure it is all within the measly 20 kg baggage weight that I am allowed (I hate the fact that just because I am not flying from or to the US, my baggage allowance is so drastically reduced - that's just so wrong).

And just sheer irritation when I think of the number of flights – 4 – that I have to take to get to my destination.

6 November 2008

It’s now more than two weeks at the new job, and things couldn’t be any different or any better.

There is such a strong team culture and doing things as a team is the norm here. And I actually heard words like well done and perfect applied to work done all the time. And of course the fact that work is only 8km away from home and I can drive in each day and get free parking. Any wonder that I can’t stop grinning?

It is a whole new world of GA (general aviation), RPLs (recreational pilot licences) and what not. And it is such fun (yes, fun).

But there’s a fly in every ointment. My own personal dhristhi pariharam. The hardest thing is not the jargon, but getting used to and recognising a whole set of ‘new’ people. I am beginning to suspect that this is something I am rather hopeless at. And this is because....read on.

I went down to the main kitchen to get a cappuccino this morning. Saw a whole crowd of blokes hanging around there. Said hi to them and waited for the machine to make my cappuchino. One of the chaps looked strangely familiar. I sneaked another quick look at him and decided I must have seen him:a. on the train to Wlg in my previous jobb. he had been a retail assistant in one of the shops I frequentedc. he had been on TV, that’s why he looked familiar.

For some reason, I was convinced that it was option c that was the right one.

It would have been alright if I had stopped with just thinking that. But me, I have to talk, don't I? So I said to him, have we met before? He gave me a very strange look and said yes, we have, we had all our IT training together last week. Then it hit me, he was J, another newbie like me in my workplace and we’d gone through two 2-hour systems training sessions together just a few days ago. And I thought I’d seen him on TV!!! OMG! How could I. How did the TV even come into the picture? I’ve officially lost it.

I apologised profusely and said all the right things about how my memory was a like a sieve and he was nice enough to come up with some of his own faux pas. But this is worrying. I can’t be so scatter-brained. Just not good enough.

30 October 2008

It was the lightning that woke her up. At least that’s what she thought. She could hear the rain and see the lightning through the small window in the bedroom. As she closed her eyes again, and curled up all ready to go to sleep again, she saw her father coming into the bedroom. He was leaning on her mother and saying Muddiyalay, oru madhiri irukku (Very tired, feeling unwell/uncomfortable). She went right back to sleep the comfortable sleep of a four-year old.

Till she was woken up yet again. She was angry then. She didn’t want to get up. But somebody was asking her to, calling her name and patting her shoulder. She sleepily opened her eyes. How funny!!! It was still dark. And there were so many people in the bedroom. The auntie from the opposite flat. Some man who was rubbing Daddy’s feet – Daddy was lying still on the bed. And someone else too. And where was amma? She was standing near the bed and was she crying? Where was her little brother?

But before she could go to her amma, the auntie grabbed her hand and said, come on, let us go and sleep in my house. No, no, I don’t want to, she said. I want to be here with amma. But somehow, nobody seemed to be taking much notice of her – not even when she burst into tears.

She didn’t remember where or how she slept in that auntie’s house that night. Nor did she remember what happened the next few days except for a few stray incidents. Lots and lots of people in her house, thatha, patti, mamas, mamis, periappas, chittis etc. The whole gamut of relatives and lots of other people she did not know.

Lots of men chanting and her father lying in balcony of their home. And horrors, someone cutting away his shirt. Actually cutting it. She ran forward, asking them to stop, but again, she was shushed, albeit gently. Didn’t they understand that they were ruining her Daddy’s shirt?

She also remembered a whole group of people going away from home, some of them carrying her father on their shoulders. And she was angry that her brother got to go out with them and she wasn’t allowed. She wanted to badger her amma till she was allowed to go with them. But she was told that she couldn’t,and once again her mini-tantrum was ignored.

As days passed, she simply accepted the fact that they were now living in Mylapore, with her thatha and patti, instead of in Ashok Nagar. She accepted that she had a new school and a new life. She accepted that her mother had to go to ‘office’ now daily. As children do.

Things went on as per normal.

Being a child, she also accepted the gradual realisation that came to her – that she would never see her Daddy again.

This is what I can remember about the night my life and my family’s life changed forever. Sometimes I wonder how I can remember it so clearly when I can barely remember anything of my life before that day…

2 October 2008

And then, along with Navarathri rounds, things are happening so quickly now, they still haven’t sunk in. Life’s a bit of a blur at the mo.

I am moving from here. Moving, moving, moving. Just in case you didn’t get it, it’s time to move on from here, new job beckons. But before that, I am taking some time off to get to know I, me and myself all over again!

The countdown has begun!! Only today and tomorrow to go…

No more train into town at unearthly hours in the morning. Although I admit, I might even miss it and the fellow sufferers who travel into town along with me every morning. I will miss the sweet-looking old lady who has her hair up in a bun everyday and wears a skirt. I will miss the flat-faced bloke with green hair and jeans that just about manage to stay up on his waist. I will miss the guy with the earphones who looks like he has burnt skin. I will miss the mustached man who gets off at Ava daily. I will miss the middle-aged couple who hold hands when they get off from the train in Wellington. I will miss…

But, most of all, I will miss all the wonderful people whom I will leave behind when I walk out of this role. They are more than workmates - they are friends and I truly will treasure the time I have spent with them.

But for now, leaving, leaving, leaving, that’s the only thought in my mind. Freedom beckons…

22 September 2008

I managed to make time to watch Singh is Kinng on the weekend.

I wish I hadn’t. Singh isn’t the king or even a yuvraj or a manthri, but rather, a complete two-dimensional moron, who ends up getting the gorgeous girl only because it is a badly-made Bollywood movie. *snore*

Can somebody, anybody tell me how that movie became such a hit - I do have a very fertile imagination, but this one is beyond me!

18 September 2008

I was at the littlie’s school last evening to demonstrate ‘India’, as their topic for this term is India. From saris to ghagras and Diwali, we talked about all that and then talked some more to the kids about henna.

Finally came the practical session, which was also the grand finale of the evening: we had to put henna on the kids’ hands. Although I can do the southie way of henna quite well (which is more basic shapes, as opposed to the really delicate northie designs), I did my darnedest best to accommodate the kids’ requests, such as hearts, butterflies, suns etc. Till it was one little boy’s turn.

Little Boy:Can I have a shape done on my hand too?Me: (encouragingly)'Course, u can. What shape would you like?LB:A body?Me:A body? (struggling a bit here)Um, sure, what sort of a body?LB:A dead body…

And Hindi films are banned in the South in Tamil Nadu? Does he even know what he’s talking about? Some of the highest grossing films recently have been Hindi movies. Talk about rabble rousers and opportunistic politicians! Disgusting!

1 September 2008

I am only human and like all humans want to impress the top boss on the rare occasions when I do see him. Today I did see him, he came down to my floor. And what’s more, he came to talk specifically to me. And what was I doing when he came? I was in the process of shoving a large spoonful of smelly rice into my mouth. Very edifying spectacle. I am sure he went away completely impressed.

Why, why why? Why couldn’t I be talking impressively on the phone, or typing an official email or organising some meeting or making a clever joke when he came? Of course, since I am eating most of the time I am at work, maybe that is to be expected;-( I am depressed. I am off to eat some more comfort foods (chocolate).

21 August 2008

When I first read the headline, I thought it was a deliberately misleading one. Like the ones goss mags use: Aamir kicks SRK etc. And then you read the article to discover that in reality, Aamir had kicked a dog named SRK or whatever…..boring.

So, that’s why I thought it was one of those headlines. Because, like you, I too thought corn was more than healthy – super healthy, in fact. A lot depends on how you use it I guess. Click here to see what I mean.

This is yet another example of the US sowing the seed and the whole world happily reaping the fruit or in this case, kernel. Like they didn’t have a mind of their own!

And of course, not to mention the gazillion dollars that will be spent in‘re-educating’ people around the world about healthy food, exercise et al. Except maybe in Africa.

Sometimes I think the US is the worst joke that someone played on the modern world. And on those poor Americans. God save America.

30 July 2008

Saw Mamma Mia last night. Strongly recommended (by me) as feel-good chick flick with stunning visuals (shot in Greece), gorgeous colour, plenty of eye candy (Colin Firth, Pierce Brosnan and lots of other young laddies), charged acting (Meryl Streep, Amanda whoever) and lots of old ABBA hits (it is a musical, after all). Only, Brosnan can't really sing but gets to do quite a lot of it. Firth can sing, but doesn't get to do a lot of it.

25 June 2008

They come in all shapes, sizes, colours and flavours….er, maybe not flavours (got a bit carried away there, sorry). But there’s no telling who could be the next hero and where. I just found an unexpected one last week.

It gave me back some of my childhood ideals to see someone who will speak up against injustice and unfairness, even though it wasn’t directed against them, and never mind the consequences. It made a huge difference seeing that someone cares enough to want to make the place a much better one for others to be in. It matters, hugely, that someone would go out of their way to do it, instead of going their way, saying, “Oh, that isn’t my business.”

If you are reading this, you know I am talking about you. Nunri, gracias, merci, dhanyavad, shukriya and thanks…This may not change the world, but sure as hell, will change mine, for the better.

19 June 2008

This tag from Shyam (well, who else?). Considering how long I normally take to do tags, this one has been completed in record time.

Rules of the game, I mean, tag:1. Pick up the nearest or any book handy.2. Open to page 123.3. Find the fifth sentence.4. Post the next three sentences.5. Tag five people, and acknowledge the person who tagged you.

At long last, I have a book with me, thanks to this tag. It is On Beauty by Zadie Smith.

A Sunday Times topseller and according to the NY Times, “…it is that rare thing: a novel that is as affecting as it is entertaining”.

I have no clue what the book is about or how the novel will be as this is a new author I am trying out now, thanks to a workmate. And I haven’t even read Page 1. But for the tag, here is extract from Page 123:

“Like one of the statuaries in the bottom of the Fitzwilliam, in Cambridge. You’ve seen those, right? Such an anciently wonderful face.”

Ooh, sound interesting and intriguing.

Now, for rule #5. Hardest of all for me. Finding 5 more to tag. I mean, I don’t even know who visits my blog anymore, ‘coz most people just zip in and skip out without even saying hi (hint, hint). So, I’ll just have to guess and pick, eh? I do know that some of you don’t have blogs, but you can stick your replies in my comments box. And let me know when you’re done, please....

18 June 2008

And here’s the next article (obviously written by an American or someone very pro-US) blaming the BRIC countries (that’s Brazil, Russia, India and China, in case you didn’t know), especially India and China for everything from the US recession to rising prices. I can't be more specific that that, as this is a yet to be published article that I am currently working on.

But hey, when you live in a glass house, you shouldn’t throw stones at others. If you do, you’re liable to get bric(k)s thrown right back at you;-)

Having brought the world to the current mess it is in now, the US and its cuzzies have some gall, asking India and China to control their emissions and resource consumption!!! Bio fuel, any one?

5 June 2008

Apparatus: One primary school, whole lot of parents, their kids and a few dance moves.

Procedure:Step 1: Find out at the 11th hour that your child has a folk dance show at school that evening.Step 2: Forget cooking (helps when you have an older child who is amenable to making pizza), get child ready, go to school.Step 3: Drop child off and sit with other parents as (supposedly) audience.Step 4: Watch group of kids dance and cheer them on, thinking: this is real cute.Step 5: Discover at the end of that dance that parents of those children are expected to join their kids for the next round of dancing and do the same dance moves (what? I didn’t even look properly).Step 6: Wait for you turn with some trepidation (yup, this is exactly what I wanted – to make a fool of myself in front of 200 other people).Step 7: Loving the way your child and her class dance.Step 8: Psyching yourself up and stepping onto the dance floor, as you know your child will be utterly disappointed if you don’t.Step 9: Dancing, absolutely loving every minute of it.Step 10: Feeling great after the dance is over, in spite of the wheezing breath.

Observation: Most parents wore smiles on their faces throughout the evening. So did the teachers and the kids. Personally, you’re left feeling really relaxed and happy.

Inference: It really works! Dancing an impromptu jig with your child, in front of an audience, is a great way to feel good;-) Just try it.

28 May 2008

15 May 2008

I saw the latest lot of varsity grads doing their usual parade around Wlg CBD during lunch time today. Lovely, with lots of pretty young things and tired old things, wearing the traditional graduate robes.

Was that how I’d looked like when I graduated too? In those robes?

Then I remembered. For some strange reason, me and my good friend S, who both graduated at the same time and in the same subjects, decided we wouldn’t dress up in those mouldy old robes and have our photos taken. While the rest of our batchmates took centrestage and received certs awarded by Madras University, we sat on the sidelines (and sulked?) and picked up our certs later.

You ask me why we did that? For the life of me, I cannot remember what that reason was!!!

Another tag, but they’re mostly no-brainers, so here goes. Oh, I got this from Shyam’s blog.

The rules are:

1. After reading my answers, copy and paste the list into your blog.

2. Change my one-word responses with yours (but I have used two words, you’re not allowed to!).

3. Publish your blog post.

4. Send me a link on my comments box.

If you get something out of a vending machine, it's most likely to be: chocolate/chips;-)A word you sometimes catch yourself misspelling: focusedYou least want people to see you as: dumbYou're a little scared of: creepy-crawlies (that counts as one word, hopefully)The least attractive thing you do in your sleep: SnoreThe number of contacts in your cell phone: HeapsHow many of them are restaurants: NoneYou lose your cool when someone: shoutsWhen you go to the drugstore, you often can't leave without buying: somethingYour dance moves can best be described as: gracelessThe majority of your underwear is: ewwwwwwwwwSomething you eat even though you hate how bad it is for you: sweetsYou think you're really not a great: teacherHow much cash is in your wallet right now: $1The majority of your shoes are this color: BlackYou don't think you'll ever be able to get rid of your: accentIf your breath is bad, it's most likely because you had: garlic/milkYou feel embarrassed when you: stammerThe last public place where you used the restroom: railway station?Something you don't like to debate in mixed company: religionYou don't think you can pull off wearing: evening dressesSomething you own entirely too much of:clothesSomeone you would love to see in concert who might bring down your street cred: DunnoThe last thing that you spilled on yourself: rasamIf you were on a reality show, the producers would likely portray/characterise you as the: nerd (yay, nerds are cool)

1 May 2008

Yesterday evening, I was belting along the motorway at 100k+, listening to an old tape that was playing in the car – ARR’s Vande Mataram (the original version). And suddenly, out of the blue, I was swept away by a wave of nostalgia and longing so strong, it brought tears to my eyes.

Was I homesick, now, more than eight years away from India? And if that was indeed homesickness, what was I pining for? Family, friends, food, faves? Or was I merely being nostalgic because I associated that Vande Mataram with happy childhood memories of All India Radio playing the same tune? Or was it just the effect of impending winter on an already-tired person? Or maybe it is just that the the tune of Vande Mataram is quite poignant?

I did some soul-searching but just couldn’t come up with any satisfactory answers. Whatever it was (and it lasted a few minutes), it was so unexpected. And it convinced me that you can take the Indian out of India, but you can’t take the India out of the Indian.

I don’t expect everyone and anyone who reads this to agree, but I do wonder: have any of you experienced a similar feeling brought on by some such incident/happening? And what was the explanation you were able to come up for this happening? Do share and enlighten me.

Finish This Statement. “If I Had A Lot Of Money I’d…”Quit my job, hire some house help, travel heaps, buy another car and a bigger, more modern house and do tons of charity, of course, all to excellent worthwhile causes - I'd be a regular Warren Buffet and Bill Gates rolled into one.

Do You Drive Fast?Often *wink*

Do You Sleep With A Stuffed Animal?No

Storms - Cool Or Scary?Scary.

What Was Your First Car?My first car was a Nissan Sunny, white, and on its abso last legs….

Favorite Drink:Water.

Finish This Statement, “If I Had The Time I Would …..”Exercise more, visit more people, spend more time with kids, cook more …well more of pretty much everything I do now, except office.. he he

Do You Eat The Stems On Broccoli?Strange question. But yes, I do.

If You Could Dye Your Hair Any Color, What Would Be Your Choice? Black with reddy-brown foils

Name All The Different Cities/Towns You Have Lived In.Madras/Chennai and Wellington. Haven’t led a very adventurous life, I’m afraid…

Favorite Sports To Watch:Very very rarely, cricket.

One Nice Thing About The Person Who Sent This To You: Well, all the things I want to say about Shyam are nice, so hard to pick just one, eh? But since that makes Shyam think that I am side-stepping the issue diplomatically (which I truly wasn't), let me say, she's got a voice to die for, hair to live for, and having her as a friend makes life much more fun!!! (and mind you, whatever she says, all of that is true!)

What’s Under Your Bed?An empty flower pot.

Would You Like To Be Born As Yourself Again?Not really thanks.

Morning Person Or Night Owl?Night owl, but now twisted and warped beyond recognition into a very grouchy morning person (what that means is that I have to get up at unearthly hours to get to work on time;-(

17 April 2008

Have to go to my older one’s school this evening. Parent-teacher interviews.

I’ve been strictly coached by my 15-year-old horror on the proper attire, accent etc. And she ended her list of long instructions with: “Umm, and amma, I know this is a long list of instructions, but one more: can you please make sure you don’t ask my teachers any clever questions, ok? They won’t know the answers.”